Arranging a funeral

Choosing a funeral director

Funeral directors will manage funeral arrangements and give advice and support. Check if the funeral director you choose belongs to a trade association. This requires them to provide full information about their services and prices.

These factors may influence your choice:

• location of the firm's premises;
• range of services provided;
• the staff; 
• cost;
• recommendation of those who have used the service;
• ownership (small family business or large firm).

There is a full listing of all local funeral directors in the Yellow Pages.

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Funeral costs

Costs for the same services may vary from one funeral director to another. You may wish to get more than one quote to compare costs. 'Disbursements' are fees paid to others, for example: for crematorium, minister, doctors' certificates, newspaper announcements, flowers and so on. Funeral payments are normally recoverable from the deceased's estate

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Financial help

If you arrange a funeral you are responsible for paying the bill, so check where the money will come from first. If you are finding it difficult to pay for a funeral that you have to arrange, you may be able to get a Social Fund Funeral Payment providing you or your partner receive one of the following:

• council tax benefit;
• disabled person's tax credit;
• housing benefit;
• income support; 
• job seeker's allowance (income based); or 
• working family's tax credit.

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You do have a choice

• A ceremony does not have to take place in a crematorium or place of worship;
• you do not have to have a funeral ceremony;
• you do not have to use a religious minister;
• you do not have to use a funeral director.

There are more options concerning the content of a funeral ceremony and its duration than many people realise. Woodland burial and other green options are becoming more popular.

Suffolk County Council offers civil funerals. A unique funeral ceremony conducted by a trained celebrant which combines a very personalised tribute about the deceased mixed with hymns or any other music, bible readings or poetry.

The majority of people choose to make their arrangements through a funeral director. But it is possible to consider handling the arrangements personally.  If this approach appeals, and you have time to research and prepare, enquire at the cemeteries and crematorium department of your local authority for guidance. You could also get information from the Natural Death Centre.

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Complaints

If your Funeral Director belongs to either of the following trade associations they may be able to assist you with a complaint.

• The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD);
• The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF).

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Further information and useful links

• National Association of Funeral Directors 618 Warwick Road, Solihull, West Midlands B91 1AA. Tel 0121 711 1343 www.nafd.org.uk;
• The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors 3 Bullfields, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire CM21 9DB. Tel 01279 726777 www.saif.org.uk;
• Natural Death Centre 6 Blackstock Mews, Blackstock Road, LONDON N4 2BT, tel 020 7359 8391, fax 020 7354 3831 www.naturaldeath.org.uk;
• National Funerals College 3 Priory Road, Bristol BS8 1TX. Tel: 0117 954 5558 ;